CH 26

“Royal etiquette is what is needed when dealing with grandfather. Or the Marquis with me. It’s not necessary for Asha to treat me that way.”

“…!”

“…!”

Asha quickly hugged Alexei’s neck and buried her head to hide her attempt to inhale in surprise.

“Ilya said he was sick, but I guess it’s because he had trouble visiting the Imperial Palace during the cold season.”

It seemed as though Valery’s smiling mouth was about to make a loud noise. Asha gulped down her saliva as a chill ran down her spine.

“What… trouble? Our home isn’t far from here. It’s just that the child is a little fragile.”

“I’m glad it’s close, because you’ll be back soon. The Marquis.”

Alexei smiled and left after saying that he would go first, turning around while holding Asha.

━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━

“…”

“…”

“…Aren’t I heavy?”

“You’re a long way from being heavy.”

Lise, who was following from behind, seemed very moved by Alexei’s friendly appearance. Except Asha was in his arms and couldn’t breathe properly.

“…You had a chance to talk to the Marquis, but I took it away.”

“No!”

Asha shouted and put her hand on Alexei’s collar.

‘Because I will never step on his shadow, let alone talk to him.’

“I told you, if I only have Alyosha…”

I’m not afraid of anything! What’s fear when the next Emperor was taking her side? Asha thought to herself.

And aside from all the problems of the future, Valery was not very happy. Being an older brother doesn’t have an obligation to take care of a younger brother in need, but what would be a good uncle who has not been contacted for 10 years and now shows up and scolds him, saying, “We have to keep the etiquette!”

And apart from the problems of the future, she didn’t like Valery very much. Being an older brother didn’t mean you had an obligation to take care of a younger brother in need, but what good is an uncle who hasn’t contacted you for 10 years and then shows up and scolds you, saying, “You have to follow etiquette!”

‘On top of that, if I become close with the Marquis, the end will be ruin.’

The Prince, who failed to become the successor, and his niece getting along well?* Alexei may forgive it, but she couldn’t gauge how Karnov would react.

*TN: The Prince in this case would be Ilya and his (the Marquis) niece (Asha)

‘It’s a mountain beyond the mountain.’

Alexei is…

Asha raised her head a little and looked at Alexei’s profile. The blue eyes looking forward turned a little, and when they looked at her, they bent softly.

She always thought that he was reluctant with her, or that he was only smiling on the surface. But no. It was just a misunderstanding caused by her urgency, tension, stereotypes and the future she knew about him.

“Compared to looking at Uncle Valery, it seems like you’re flying petals to me.”

<Yeah, didn’t I say this guy didn’t hate you?>

‘You should have told me more clearly!’

“Asha? What are you looking at?”

“Huh? Eh, Alyosha’s face.”

“How is it?”

“Pretty!”

“You’re the one who’s pretty.”

Asha was briefly dazzled and avoided his gaze. She thought Alexei had a halo shining over him as he closed his eyes and smiled.

“That… No, no…”

Even if she said no, she thought it would be difficult to endure the conversation that would follow. Asha shied away from answering by just putting her forehead on Alexei’s shoulder. Alexei didn’t make fun of Asha, but laughed a little.

━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━

After shaking off his illness, Alexei became more honest with her, as his escort Cyril had said. Seriously.

‘After all, people have to eat sweets. Next time, should I put tea leaves or put fruit jam on top and bake it?’

Asha looked down at her cookie after taking a bite. Sweet particles melted in her mouth. The kitchen had been busy preparing for the victory ball for the past week, so she made the sable dough all at once, froze it, and baked it when she had a little free time.

“More than that, Asha.”

Asha, who was contemplating cookies, raised her head. Alexei put down the glass and smiled. As she could see the grumpiness beyond the laughter, Asha swallowed her saliva.

In the past, Alexei used to laugh coldly, but now he was mischievous. In addition, every time her name was called after the victory ceremony, she felt like she was losing.

“What?”

“I heard that you wouldn’t participate in the victory ball tomorrow.”

“…”

“I wasn’t thinking about it…”

“I heard you’re going to have a stomach ache at the victory ball tomorrow.”

“…I don’t know anyone even if I go to the ball. I don’t think it’s going to be fun.”

“It won’t be fun, but I’ll play with you.”

“But still…”

“Is there something scary?”

Yes, there is! There is! There really was!

But when she said yes, Alexei seemed to want to wrap her up and drag her to the ball with a smiling face from the beginning to the end.

“The Marquis of Shapiroqin… Is it because of Uncle Valery?”

“What? Who… Oh, no.”

“Yes, I suppose it’s not. You didn’t even seem to remember until I asked you.”

Alexei’s words made Asha a little embarrassed. In the meantime, Alexei closed his eyes and laughed, cupping his chin.

“My friend will also come, so it would be good to say hello this time.”

Asha slammed her head into the teacup with her tone of disapproval. She wasn’t going because of the friend Alexei was talking about!

‘I’ll never go!’

The only person Alexei would call “friend” was Karnov Neustadter. And Karnov Neustadter had his own solid philosophy of action. Justice, since he grew up in the northern army and hardened harshly from a young age, was harder than steel because of the coldness of the North.

Karnov had lived to make Alexei Emperor by that definition…

‘You really want to eat me to the bone, right? I’m just making some money selling Phoebe powder. Yeah, only until we find the girl with the power of that stability…’

Asha raised her head slightly and glanced at Alexei. He was a boy who knew how to play pranks.

“But if it’s Alyosha’s friend, they probably don’t like me…”

It was time for Asha to stutter like that. The Crown Prince’s visit was interrupted without notice with a sudden sound. And Asha’s face was immediately white when she recognized the person.

‘Scary, how scary! How can you show up as soon as I talk about you?!’

The one who opened the door with both hands and entered was a boy about Alexei’s age, with black hair tinged with silver. However, it was a person whose age could not be read from the vividly shining purple eyes.

It was Karnov, the person she met at the victory ceremony not too long ago. There was not a surprising hint of emotion around him.

“Karnov, are you here?”

“Your Highness, I just heard an interesting story…”

The blue lining of Karno’s irrelevant uniform cloth fluttered over his shoulders. Just by looking at him, he was like a cruel boy tyrant.

Karnov, who walked to the table with great strides, came near and noticed the presence of Asha hidden by the wall.

“…I didn’t have to bring it up.”

‘If you had turned those eyes of yours into a  mixer, you would have achieved ultra-fine particle innovation technology.’

Asha gulped down her dry saliva. Karnov’s eyes immediately turned to Alexei in the next seat.

<Talk to that guy!>

“What?”

<Quickly! Talk to that guy, talk to that guy! Hold hands and hug too!>

‘What, what are you saying, Phoebe? Are you out of your mind?’

While Asha was having an absurd conversation with Phoebe, Alexei rose from his seat with a grin.

“Karnov, may I speak to you for a moment? Asha, I’m sorry, but wait a minute.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Asha made an effort to smile and nodded her head.

At first, Phoebe was impatient, saying, “Run right away and with that guy-!” but now he seemed to have regained his composure. With an inexplicable sadness.

Asha gently stroked the sleeve button and sighed. It was clear what the two would talk about.

‘This is how I will accomplish my dream of extending my life.’

━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━

As soon as the study door closed, Karnov looked back at Alexei.

“What is that? Princess Anastasia?”

“Yeah. Isn’t she cute?”

“…”

Karnov shut up without affirmation or denial. Alexei smiled and said the first thing he had to say.

“Karnov, good job in the northern war.”

Karnov’s brows were frowned upon by Alexei’s remarks as if he were changing the subject.

“You must have had no trouble at all. I can see that your complexion has improved.”

Alexei drew a small smile at Karnov’s words.

“Is that so?”

“You’re going to brag about your wealth and fame to me now?”

Alexei shook his head at Karnov’s sarcasm. The smile still lingered on his face, and this time Karnov folded his arms.

“This is not my friend, His Highness Alexei. If the spirit is pretending to be Alexei, or if the fake one is in disguise, reveal your true identity.”

“Stop making fun of me, Karnov.”

“We’re back to square one. What’s that?”

Alexei understood Karnov.

“Anastasia. Uncle Yuri’s only daughter. She signed a contract with the bird spirit at the spirit ceremony and remained in the palace.”

“A bird spirit? But His Majesty left her?”

“I still don’t know why.”

At Alexei’s words, Karnov squinted and scanned him up and down.

“…do you like her?”

“She’s my only cousin.”

Karnov looked at Alexei with a firm look on his face.

Karnov was already well aware that such an expression meant more to Alexei, who had consciously calmed down his agitation.

“She also thinks of you as her only cousin?”

“I think. That she does.”

“Isn’t it possible that even if Princess Anastasia thought so, the people around her wouldn’t?”

Alexei’s face smiled at the words.

“So, I was going to ask you a favor.”

“…What?”

“To keep Asha from attracting strange flies. To make use of your senses please.”